Flow of visitors to Ailao sparks safety concerns

The Ailao Mountains in Yunnan province saw a surge in visitors during the National Day holiday from Tuesday to Monday, following a viral mineral-collecting adventure video posted by a vlogger.

During the weeklong holiday, the Ailao Mountain scenic area in Xinping county welcomed over 50,000 tourists, a 15 percent increase compared to the same period last year, according to the county's culture and tourism bureau. The annual average for the scenic area is around 500,000 visitors.

The influx of tourists led to full occupancy and skyrocketing prices at local accommodations. A popular topic on social media platform Sina Weibo was "Traffic jam in the Ailao Mountains."

A local homestay owner, surnamed Chen, told Shangyou News that his 20-room establishment was fully booked within hours.

"Normally, our rooms cost about 90 yuan ($12.80) per night, but during the holiday, prices went up to 240 yuan. Even then, demand far exceeded supply," he said.

One visitor surnamed Long, who drove from Chongqing to witness the sea of clouds and sunrise, said the experience was breathtaking. However, she noted challenges, including thick fog and poor visibility while driving through the mountains.

The surge in tourism has sparked safety concerns among local authorities as well as residents. The Ailao Mountains span multiple counties, including Xinping and Chuxiong. While parts of the mountains, such as the scenic area in Xinping, offer better facilities and safety measures, officials warned that other areas, especially the core zone of the Ailao Mountains National Nature Reserve, pose significant risks.

In 2021, four geological survey workers went missing in the mountains and were later confirmed dead due to hypothermia.

On Saturday, the scenic area issued a safety advisory urging tourists to avoid underdeveloped areas. On Sunday, the Chuxiong management bureau of the nature reserve issued notices warning that unauthorized entry into the reserve would result in fines ranging from 100 to 5,000 yuan.

Experts have cited the mountains' complex geography, the release of carbon dioxide at night and abnormal geomagnetic fields as factors that can disorient visitors, leading to unconsciousness or causing compasses to malfunction. Local villagers also warned of wild animals such as bears and snakes, as well as unpredictable weather conditions that can cause tourists to become lost.

The growing popularity of outdoor adventure tourism in China has exposed visitors to increasing risks. In May, a woman died from hypothermia while hiking on Wugong Mountain in Jiangxi province. In June, 25 hikers were trapped in Hainan Tropical Rainforest National Park, resulting in one death.